Employment History

Vice President and Senior Project Manager

Franchise Owner

The sheer size and height of Trump-the tallest skyscraper to be built in the U.S. since 1992-will drive many of the project's unusual features, said Dave Alexander, McHugh's senior vice president of concrete services.
To handle the volume of concrete, McHugh has acquired a concrete pump from Germany custom-built for the tower.
It will be able to pump up to 230 cubic yards of concrete per hour, and pump 100 cubic yards of concrete per hour up to a height of 1,700 feet. (While that's several hundred feet higher than the building, the pumping system, or slick lines, will feature a series of horizontal loops to keep the 35,000 pounds of material within it flowing properly.)

"Wind and weather will also pose challenges for a job this size," Alexander added.
"Concrete teams may face a 30-degree temperature difference between street level and the upper floors they're pouring.
To combat the wind and weather, McHugh will install a hydraulically jacked, three-story high windscreen around the perimeter of the building to enclose the working floors to protect the workers and equipment.
This will be the first use of such a system in the United States."

While the scope of the project and its high profile might give other contractors pause, Alexander noted that McHugh's solid relationship with Bovis, along with its experience delivering innovative concrete structures, has ensured a positive experience.

"Since this is our sixth project with this particular Bovis team, we've developed an excellent rapport," Alexander said.

"In many ways, Aqua will be the Marina City of our generation with the way we're taking a totally new direction in using concrete for the exterior," said Dave Alexander, McHugh senior vice president.

There is no repetition whatsoever in the ripples that make up the balconies, which range from zero to 12 feet deep, said Alexander, and McHugh must custom-build all the forms that will cantilever past the edge of the building, with the shapes of the edges custom built.

The rippling façade of this new urban tower incorporates 8.5 miles of curved balconies, each with its own unique shape and size, says Dave Alexander, senior vice president and project exec with James McHugh Construction.

"Each pour at Aqua was an intricate dance," Alexander says.

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"Prairie's ability to deliver the right materials to the right place at the right time was paramount," says Alexander.